[Computer & Information Sciences](/majors/computer-information-sciences/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong computer & information sciences education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 12 schools to find the best return on investment for computer & information sciences students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the computer & information sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in computer & information sciences, no school beat University Of The District Of Columbia this year. Set in the city of Washington, University Of The District Of Columbia is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,662 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,514. Typical student debt for computer & information sciences graduates is $29,000. Computer & Information Sciences graduates of University Of The District Of Columbia earn a median of $65,524 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,000 median debt.
Potomac College Washington is a great value for students pursuing a degree in computer & information sciences, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Washington, Potomac College Washington is a small private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,660. Median earnings reach $34,961 ten years out.
Strayer University Global Region came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value computer & information sciences schools. Set in the city of Washington, Strayer University Global Region is a large private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $13,920 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for computer & information sciences graduates is $37,911. Computer & Information Sciences graduates of Strayer University Global Region earn a median of $71,798 early in their careers. Set against $37,911 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Catholic University Of America one of the best values for computer & information sciences. Catholic University Of America is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,378. Students borrow a median of $25,771 to complete the computer & information sciences program here. Computer & Information Sciences graduates of Catholic University Of America earn a median of $65,120 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Catholic University Of America admits about 83% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in computer & information sciences will find it at George Washington University, which ranked #5. George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. In-state tuition and fees average $67,710. Typical student debt for computer & information sciences graduates is $20,820. Soon after graduation, computer & information sciences degree recipients from George Washington University generally make around $102,238. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. George Washington University admits about 47% of applicants.
Career Technical Institute came in at #6 for value in computer & information sciences this year. Located in the city of Washington, Career Technical Institute is a small private for-profit university. Computer & Information Sciences graduates carry a median of $7,652 in student loans. Computer & Information Sciences graduates of Career Technical Institute earn a median of $24,935 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,652 median debt.
Georgetown University landed the #7 spot for computer & information sciences value this year. Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,089. Typical student debt for computer & information sciences graduates is $16,007. Soon after graduation, computer & information sciences degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $139,187. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 13% of applicants are accepted.
American University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value computer & information sciences schools. Set in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $58,771. Typical student debt for computer & information sciences graduates is $24,139. Computer & Information Sciences graduates of American University earn a median of $54,585 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
Howard University placed #9 among the best values for computer & information sciences. Set in the city of Washington, Howard University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $35,810. Computer & Information Sciences graduates carry a median of $25,498 in student loans. Early-career computer & information sciences graduates make about $58,495. Set against $25,498 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Howard University admits about 41% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
